About Us

Our Executive Team

Marianne Fazen, PhD

Marianne Fazen is the General Manager of Southwest Management. Her primary responsibilities include management oversight and Executive Director leadership of all client organizations.

Marianne has provided effective leadership and management services to non-profit benefits-related organizations since 1994. She also serves on the Boards of two national health benefits associations and is a frequent speaker on health benefits and healthcare issues. Prior to association management, Marianne was a marketing consultant, adjunct professor at the University of Dallas Graduate School of Management, and author of a nationally-acclaimed reference book on managed care. Before that, she worked for VHA, Inc., a national not-for-profit hospital system. Marianne received her bachelor's degree in Medical Technology from the University of Wisconsin and her doctorate in Communications Science and Human Development from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Robert Fazen, MBA

Robert Fazen is Chief Executive Officer of Southwest Management, which he co-founded with Marianne Fazen in 1997 to transition her growing association management consulting practice into a formal business operation. Robert oversees the financial and technical operations of Southwest Management and its client organizations. He also designed incentive programs that successfully encourage employees to focus on organizational growth and member satisfaction for each client organization.

After completing a successful 27-year career as a principal of Dallas-based software company Seay Systems, Inc., the company was sold in 2004. Robert helped build the business initially as a contract programmer, then managed the technical support of new products, and finally directed the marketing of those products. He also acted as Controller for the firm. Seay Systems considered its greatest success to be a high level of customer satisfaction. Robert received his BBA from University of Oklahoma and MBA from Southern Methodist University.

Marcus Chappell

Marc Chappell is the COO and Vice President of Client Services for Southwest Management. He joined the company in 1998. Marc works directly with Southwest Management clients to achieve goals defined by each organization’s Board of Directors. This includes creating and managing budgets, establishing and managing vendor relationships, developing sponsorship opportunities, project management, and membership growth. Marc specializes in meeting and conference planning, sponsor solicitation and relationship management, financial management, technical support, and membership services.

Beyond that, Marc focuses on business development for Southwest Management and its clients. Marc received his BBA in Finance and BS in International Economics from Southern Methodist University.